Improvement in boot-trees



' ZShe'ets--Sheetl T. BRNIGAN.

A Bunt-Trees. No. 144,312. Patented N0v.4,1a 73.

-end has a screw-thread working in the nut b2,

l with an elongated loop or slot, the upper end being embraced by thedat ends of straps penrien.

AENT

THOMAS BRANIGAN, OF BELOIT, WISCONSIN.

IMPROVEMENT IN Boor-TREES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 144,312, dated Novemhcr4, 1h73 4application filed October 4, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, TrioMAs BRANIGAN, of the city of Beloit, Rockcounty, in the State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Boot-Trees, and I do hereby declare the followingdescription and accompanying drawings, forming a part of thisspecicaton, are surlicient to ena ble any person skilled in the art orscience to which it most nearly appertains to make and use my saidinvention or improvements without further invention orv experiment.

The object of my invention is to provide the trade with a boot-tree atonce simple of construction and perfect in application, whereby any partof the boot may be stretched as required without spoiling the shape orform. The foot or instep may be enlarged by raising the upper part ofthe last or foot of the tree vertically. The bottom or top of thebootleg may be enlarged as required, or the whole leg may be spread outat the same time equally from top to bottom, as hereinafter particularlydescribed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of the tree completewith my improvements. Fig. 2 is a vertical plan section. Fig. 3 is asimilar view of the stretching Vdevice placed in the rear of the tree,detached 5 and Fig. 4. is a plan view of the foot detached.

In the drawings similar letters of reference indicate correspondingparts.

It will be seen that by this invention the whole work of stretching orenlarging the foot or leg of a boot is accomplished by the -propermanipulation of the vertical cross #headed screw-rods E and c2, ashereinafter explained. By turning the screw-rod c2, Fig. 2, to the leftthe` sliding front B and upper part of the foot O will be carried downtill the foot is closed, as in Fig. 4. The rod c2 passes down throughthe solid or rigid part of the front b3, covered by the metal cap L,shown at Fig. l. Its lower which nut has a strap on each side, allowingthe screw to -pass between them, said straps uniting at their lower endsand clasping a flat follower-piece, h; at its lower end provided dentfrom the nut b2 and loosely hinged between them. The slot of the part his intended to engage with the hook t' of the foot part (l, as shown atFig. 2. The rod c2 is prevented from moving up or down in the tree bymeans of 'a shoulder engaging with an open nut, as seen a little abovethe nut b2, Fig. 2. This strap b? traverses the length of the white lineor space shown on the left-hand side ofthe strap-nut b?, which is justsufficient to allow the foot C and front B of the tree to be drawn up,as shown at Fig. 2, and again screwed down till the foot is closed, asin Fig. 4. The white space for the nut b2 on the sliding part of thefront B should be but little more than the depth of said nut, for thereason that the function of said nut on its front side is to engage witha suitable groove cut in Vthe said movable part of the front B. The rearpart of the front B is merely a rigid frame-work for supporting themovable parts. Then the slotted follower 7L is let down so as to passover the hook t', by turning the tree with the toe downward the loopwill fall upon the hook z' then tighten the screw-rod c2 by turning tothe right, and the hook will be found firmly engaged with the followerl1.. rIhe treemay then be handled in any way. rIhe parts are disengagedby reversing this operation. The foot part O traverses a suitable groovein the rigid part Vof the front B, by means of the corresponding rabbetpart K, shown at Fig. 4.

It will be seen that the instep or whole of the foot of the boot isenlarged or stretched by screwing up the front B and foot U by means ofturning the screw-rod c2 to the right. The action is perfect anduniform. The whole front being carried up together, there can be nowrinkle or unequal tension upon the leather.

The device connected with the screw-rod E is thus explained: In Fig. 2the stretching device is shown at the bottom of the space S S, Fig. 2.Now, by turning the screw-rod E to the right, the right and left handnuts a2 upon the corresponding screw-threads of the rod E will be-drawntoward each other,` carrying with themthe inner ends of the arms :v mpivoted to said nuts, and having their outer ends pivoted to thefollower j'. Now, by observing this device at Fig. 2 in its normalposition, it will be seen that this operation must expand the whole footand lower part of the bootleg 2 mman in the direction ofthe length ofthe foot. By lifting the point of the lever c3, actuating the Wire w,the spring-dog o is disengaged, and the stretching device may then bedrc wn up to the top of the space S, by means of the rod E, after firstremoving the tension from the follower j' by turning the screw-rod E tothe left. The boot-leg may in like manner be enlarged at the upper part,or in the same manner at any other part of the boot-leg. If thestretcher is placed exactly at the middle ofthe leg the whole length ofthe leg will be enlarged equally from top to bottom. rFhis device ismoved nup and down in the tree by means of a cut-out or groove, in whichthe metal frame G slides, and is held at any desired point by means ofthe spring-dog 0.

The parts A, B, C, and D are clasped on each side by the metal shell F,screwed to the rigid part of the front B, as shown.

When in use the whole tree is firmly held by the spring-dog 0, so thatneither the whole front or rear part can be moved up or down separatelyuntil the dog o is disengaged by raising the lever c3, as shown m thedrawing, Fig. l.

Having thus explained my said invention,`

what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a boot-tree, the sliding front B, rod e2,

arms x and follower substantially as specied. y

THOMAS BRANIGAN.

Witnesses:

P. JOHNSON, T. WRIGHT.

